Joan Leaver
Feb. 8, 1925-Jan. 11, 2015
Menlo Park, California

Joan Agnes O'Grady Leaver, 89, entered into God's loving embrace on Jan. 11, 2015, from her home in Menlo Park, California. She was born on Feb. 8, 1925, in Palo Alto (then known as Mayfield.) Her parents, Thomas and Delia Finn O'Grady, were immigrants from County Roscommon in Ireland. Joan grew up in Palo Alto and graduated from Mercy High School in Burlingame, California, which she attended on a four-year scholarship.

She wed Robert Neeley Leaver in 1943, and they were happily married for 58 years. Joan had the incredible, overtime job of raising their seven children. She retired from this vocation after 35 years of loving service when her youngest left home for college, what an accomplishment! She spent her life teaching those she met the enduring values of love, dignity and grace.

She enjoyed gardening, and while she had a special love for roses, all flowers made her smile. She loved gracing her home with bouquets from her garden year round. Playing bridge was another passion and was a member of the Palo Alto Bridge Center for many years. Friends and relatives remember her for the many parties, weddings, receptions and bridge games she delightfully hosted in her lovely home and yard.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Neeley Leaver; brother, Thomas O'Grady Jr; and sister, Nellie O'Grady Negri.

Joan is survived by her sons and daughters, R. Grady (Rosemary Reed) Leaver, Pacifica; Michael Ann (Peter Engelhart) Leaver, Berkeley; Janet Winter, Mountain View; Cindy (Jeffrey) Backstrom, Fairfield, Iowa; Patton (Elizabeth) Leaver, Moorpark, California; Scott (Mary) Leaver, Los Altos; Mark C. Leaver, Menlo Park; her sister, Rita O'Connor, Palo Alto; her grandchildren, Mark F. Leaver, Soren Leaver, Simon Leaver-Appelman, Dan Jacobson, Heather Rodriguez-Miller, Thomas Miller, Collin Miller, Stacey M. Forbear, Thomas Leaver, Cathleen Leaver Cantwell, Elizabeth Leaver Condron, Margaret Leaver, Claire Leaver and Brett Leaver; and many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.